Former Australian terrorist suspect buoyed by CIA interrogation revelations

Updated
April 02, 2014 14:32:00

The finding by the US Senate that the CIA lied about the extent and severity of its interrogation program has buoyed a former Australian terrorist suspect, who is fighting to prove he was tortured in Egypt. Mamdouh Habib says Egyptian authorities refuse to acknowledge he was in the country at the time, so he needs the documents that show the Australian government knew he was being held there.

ELEANOR HALL: The finding by the US Senate that the CIA lied about the extent and severity of its interrogation program has buoyed an Australian former terrorist suspect who is fighting to prove that he was tortured in Egypt.

Mamdouh Habib was detained in Pakistan in 2001 on suspicion he was linked to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He was transferred to Egypt for several months, before being flown to Guantanamo Bay, where he was held until he was released back to Australia in 2005.

But the dual Australian-Egyptian national says the Egyptian authorities refuse to acknowledge that he was in the country at the time, so he needs the documents that show the Australian government knew he was being held there.

Mr Habib's claims have been discredited in official reports but he says he's been unfairly accused of lying. He told Deborah Rice that he is reassured that the dishonesty of intelligence agencies is now being exposed.

MAMDOUH HABIB: Definitely, yes. Every day when someone come out, give some new evidence, they help my case - definitely they help my case. I want the people to stand up and say they have torture there.

If they really mean it and if they really feel sorry for what happened, give us some form of document to present it in court, to stand up and to get our right from these people, or mentions names of people involved with torture, or give some evidence to present in any court around the world to prove or to help myself and to help the other people as well who have been through the torture.

DEBORAH RICE: So, it's not just good enough the CIA being accused of this within the US? There actually needs to be some action taken?

MAMDOUH HABIB: Exactly. That's what we're fighting for, because the people just stand up and talk. We want documents, we want evidence, we want to hear some names.

DEBORAH RICE: If you're successful in Egypt, will that clear your name finally?

MAMDOUH HABIB: My name never cleared, even in Australia, because when I been in Egypt for first hearing, Australian government threatened me to ask me to stop what I'm doing in Egypt, and doesn't want me to call the Australian government to give evidence in Egypt. They take my money from Commonwealth Bank; they threaten me and they close my account in Australia, for no reason...

DEBORAH RICE: Australian officials in Egypt threatened you?

MAMDOUH HABIB: Australian official was in Egypt hand to hand, face to face, together with Egyptian agency, face me and ask me to not, to pull the case out in Egypt, because my case was running, and now we're waiting for Australian official to come in the court, giving evidence.

The document they have from Australian court is the true document and this is connection between Australia and Egypt when they mention Mr Habib: he was in Egypt, treated well, and he is well.

DEBORAH RICE: Why do you think they threatened you?

MAMDOUH HABIB: Because they're scared of the case to be run, because Australian government involved with torture, with Egyptian, with Americans as well - even the Britons. They wash their clothes, their dirty clothes, in Egypt.

DEBORAH RICE: So are you saying that the Australian authorities have been lying just as much as those in the United States?

MAMDOUH HABIB: Definitely. Them all liar in the CIA.

DEBORAH RICE: How does that make you feel?

MAMDOUH HABIB: I feel sick. I feel like these people stand up in front of the public and these people presenting us are lying and sick people. Dishonest. I feel this whatever they say. Whatever they say is rubbish and not true and dishonest.

DEBORAH RICE: How important do you think your case is for other people who might be detained?

MAMDOUH HABIB: I will fight it with the last drip of my blood to prove there is torture there and every government lying and denying human being rights.